Beverage container having integral formed lip guard

ABSTRACT

A beverage container of the easy-opening type has an end panel including a removable panel portion formed by a peripheral score line. The end panel has a concave portion extending into the score line and on both sides of the removable panel portion to enable an upper lip of a person drinking from the container to extend into the concave portion. The concave portion of the end panel facilitates drinking from the container.

United States Patent Sheafe, III

[54] BEVERAGE CONTAINER HAVING INTEGRAL FORMED LIP GUARD [72] Inventor: Edward A. Sheafe, III, 6935 Columbia Drive, Alexandria, Va. 22307 [22] Filed: May 7, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 35,474

[52] U.S. Cl .220/54, 220/906 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 17/20 [58] Field of Search 15/46; 220/54, 48, 90.6, 27;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hansen et a1 ..220/54 [451 Dec. 5, 1972 3,448,887 6/1969 Geiger ..220/54 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Lowe and King [5 7] ABSTRACT A beverage container of the easy-opening type has an end panel including a removable panel portion formed by a peripheral score line. The end panel has a concave portion extending into the score line and on both sides of the removable panel portion to enable an upper lip of a person drinking from the container to extend into the concave portion. The concave portion of the end panel facilitates drinking from the container.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEE lim 3.704.805

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BEVERAGE CONTAINER HAVING INTEGRAL FORMED LIP GUARD The present invention relates generally to beverage containers of the easy-opening type and, more particularly, to a beverage container having an end panel with a removable pane] portion and a concave segment extending on either side of the removable panel portion.

Beverage containers of the easy-opening type have received wide popularity and are presently utilized to a great extent. These containers, usually formed of sheet metal, such as aluminum, generally are in the form of a cylindrical body having a pair of end panels. In one of the panels there is provided a removable panel portion formed by a peripheral score line. The end panel carrying the removable panel portion is generally disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body or is convex, i.e., bowed outwardly from the container body.

In use, the removable panel portion is removed and the beverage contents of the container are frequently consumed by a person placing his lips in an opening formed by the removable panel portion. It has been found, however, that the flow of beverage liquid from the container to the mouth of a drinker appears to be impeded when the presently employed containers are utilized. In particular, it appears that back pressure of some type has a tendency to build up within the container while the contents thereof are being consumed. The liquid does not seem to flow readily from the container to the mouth of the drinker.

In accordance with the present invention, I have found that the flow of beverage liquid from the interior of a container to the mouth of a person drinking directly from the container appears to be increased by depressing the end panel in the vicinity of the removable panel portion to form a concave region bowed inwardly of the container body. The depressed or concave portion of the end panel has an area sufficiently great to enable an upper lip of a person drinking from the container to extend into it.

I am unable to explain the reason why flow rate into the mouth of a person drinking from a container having a depressed or concave end panel portion occurs. Experimental evidence, however, indicates that the ap parent rate of flow into the mouth of the consumer is greater when the end panel includes the concaveportion. One possible explanation for the apparent improved result is that the upper lip of the consumer has a tendency to assume a natural drinking position relatively forward of the lower lip when it projects into the concave portion of the end panel. Because the upper lip is close to assuming its natural drinking position, greater comfort is provided to the consumer than is the case with the presently employed end panels wherein the upper lip is forced to an unnatural anduncomfortable position behind the lower lip.

A further advantage of the recessed or concave end panel is that it provides the beverage consumer with the feeling that there is less opportunity for his lips to be cut than is the case with prior art end panels. This feeling occurs because the upper lip of the consumer does not abut immediately against a protruding surface of the end panel but extends into a cavity. Since the upper lip extends into a cavity and does not abut against a protruding surface the consumer does not usually have the feeling that his lips will be cut by a sharp edge of the removable panel portion after it has been removed. By providing the consumer with the feeling that his lips will not be cut greater use of beverage containers of the specified class will occur.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved beverage container-of the easy-opening type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container of the easy-opening type wherein a drinker who places his lips against an opening formed by a removable panel portion is provided with the feeling that the beverage is being consumed at a relatively rapid rate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container of the easy-opening type that is more comfortable to the consumer when he places his lips against an opening formed by a removable panel portion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a beverage container of the easy-opening type wherein a consumer will not be reluctant to press his lips against an aperture formed in an end panel of the container.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container of the easy-opening type wherein the upper lip of a consumer assumes a relatively normal drinking position when pressed against an aperture formed in an end panel of the container.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of several specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an end panel of a beverage container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the beverage container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view, taken along the lines 3--3, FIG. 2, illustrating the removable panel portion and depressed or concave end panel portion;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through the lines 4- 4, FIG. 2, illustrating a segment of the container through a chord;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side-sectional view taken through the lines 6-6, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken through the lines 7- 7, FIG. 5, illustrating a portion of another embodiment through a chord;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating lips of a consumer in accordance with the typical prior art configuration; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating in detail and exaggerated form the concave portion of the end panel and the position of lips of a beverage consumer pressed against the container.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-4 wherein there are illustrated various views of one embodiment of the container of the present invention. The container includes a cylindrical body 11 having a pair of end panels, with the top end panel 12 specifically illustrated. Top end panel 12 is fixedly secured to body 11 by double seam 13 which forms a lip around the periphery of end panel 12. Cylindrical body 11 and its center to approximately the periphery of the panel.

Score line 14 forms the periphery of a removable panel portion 15 in end panel 12 so that anaperture can be formed in the end panel to enable the contents of the container 11 to be emptied. Removable panel portion 15 is torn from panel 12 by being provided with a pull tab 16 fixedly mounted on the narrow, centrally located end of panel portion 15 by rivet 17. Pull tab 16 is pulled forwardly to sever panel portion 15 from end panel 12 along score line 14 to form the aperture or opening in end panel 12.

In the prior art, end panel 12 generally has either a convex, i.e., outwardly bowed or domed surface (illustrated by dotted line 21) across its entire length between crease formed between the end panel periphery and double seam 13. In accordance with the present invention, however, at least a portion of the end panel 12 is bowed inwardly to form a concave seg ment 18 extending transversely of end panel portion 15 and with sufficient area and appropriate shape to receive the upper lip of a beverage consumer. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the depressed, concave or inwardly bowed segment 18 of end panel 12 has a general configuration in the shape of a bell. Depressed portion 18 has a lateral extent generally transversely of the radius of end panel 12 through removable panel portion 15 into and beyond score line 14 sufficiently great to enable lips of a person consuming the beverage to be inserted therein. The depth of portion 18 'is also great enough to enable the upper lip of the drinker to fit comfortably therein, as illustrated in detail by FIGS. 3, 4 and 9. To these ends the maximum depth of segment 18 below the periphery of end panel 12 just inwardly of crease 20 is on the order of one-fourth inch. The maximum depth of segment 18 occurs approximately threefourths inch from seam 13, a position where the upper lip of most consumers abuts against end panel 12. The length of the peripheral arc of segment 18 proximate crease 20 is on the order of 2% inches to enable the upper lip of the consumer to fit comfortably into segment 18 as the lip extends outwardly from the center of end panel 12.

A comparison, on a slightly exaggerated basis, of the forwardly bowed end panel portion in accordance with the present invention, with a typical prior art end panel is provided by FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, the typical prior art configuration of a slightly upwardly bowed end panel portion is shown by line 21, while the improved end panel structure in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 by end panel surface 22. In most physiological configurations, the upper lip of a person extends slightly beyond the lower lip. The upper lip of a person consuming a beverage by drinking directly from a container with the prior art end panel configuration is forced rearwardly of the lower lip by a considerable extent by end panel 21 when applied against the end panel. In contrast, in accordance with the present invention, the upper lip of a person drinking the beverage in the container 11 extends outwardly into contact with end panel surface 22 to a relatively natural drinking position. Because the upper lip is in a more normal position with the present invention than with the prior art, greater comfort is imparted to the consumer of the beverage. In addition, it usually appears to a person drinking the liquid that the beverage is being consumed at a more rapid rate than with the prior art.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5-7 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein the bell shaped like depression in end panel 12 is replaced with a kidney shaped rib 22 in the end panel. Rib 22 has a lateral extent beyond the radially extending edges of end panel portion 15 approximately equal to the lateral extent of depression 18. The radial extent of rib 22 from the periphery of body 1 1 inwardly, however, is equal approximately to three quarters of the radius of body 1 l, a distance on the order of three-fourths inch.

As illustrated in the cross-sectional configuration of FIG. 6, rib 22 includes a steeply tapered forward wall 23 extending downwardly from the edge of end panel 12 proximate crease 20. From the root of wall 23 a generally horizontal, but slightly upwardly sloping region 24 is provided. From the root of depressed portion 24 proximate the center of end panel 12, a steep, generally vertically disposed side 25 is formed.

Rib 22 provides a depression having sufficient depth and area in end panel 12 to enable the upper lip of a person drinking the beverage within the container to be inserted therein. In addition, rib 22 adds structural strength to the end panel 12, thereby enabling removable panel portion 15 to be more easily torn from the remainder of end panel 12 along score line 14.

While there have been described and illustrated several specific embodiments of the invention, it will be clear that variations in the details of the embodiments specifically illustrated and described may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, all of end panel 12 can be made concave or bowed inwardly so that the maximum depression occurs in the center.

I claim:

1. A beverage container of the easy-opening type adapted to have the liquid contents thereof consumed by drinking directly from the container opening comprising a container body having a sheet metal end panel, said end panel including an elongated removable panel portion formed by a peripheral score line, said removable panel portion extending radially approxi mately from the center of the end panel to the periphery of the end panel to form, when removed, an opening for the contents, said end panel having a concave portion extending into the score line and on both sides of the removable panel portion, said concave portion having an area sufficiently great to enable an upper lip of a person drinking from the container to extend therein and a maximum depth removed from the periphery of the end panel by approximately threequarters of an inch, said concave portion terminating approximately at the center of the end panel and extending only in the same general direction from the tapered walls inwardly directed from the end panel around the kidney shaped periphery thereof and a substantially horizontal region between the walls to define the area in which the upper lip extends and to add structural strength to the end panel to facilitate tearing of the removable panel portion. 

1. A beverage container of the easy-opening type adapted to have the liquid contents thereof consumed by drinking directly from the container opening comprising a container body having a sheet metal end panel, said end panel including an elongated removable panel portion formed by a peripheral score line, said removable panel portion extending radially approximately from the center of the end panel to the periphery of the end panel to form, when removed, an opening for the contents, said end panel having a concave portion extending into the score line and on both sides of the removable panel portion, said concave portion having an area sufficiently great to enable an upper lip of a person drinking from the container to extend therein and a maximum depth removed from the periphery of the end panel by approximately three-quarters of an inch, said concave portion terminating approximately at the center of the end panel and extending only in the same general direction from the center toward the periphery of the end panel as the axial direction of the removable panel portion, said concave portion being approximately symmetrical with the axis of the removable panel portion, wherein the concave portion is in the form of a rib having a kidney shape, said rib having a peripheral arc that extends around the periphery of the removable panel portion for approximately 2 1/2 inches, said rib including steeply tapered walls inwardly directed from the end panel around the kidney shaped periphery thereof and a substantially horizontal region between the walls to define the area in which the upper lip extends and to add structural strength to the end panel to facilitate tearing of the removable panel portion. 